Turns out a simple dose of salt can solve a whole slew of home disasters, like cracked egg messes and spills. And not only are the fixes incredibly easy, but they’re also usually cheaper than using other fancy cleaning products. Here are a few of our favourite ways to let salt save the day.
Get sticky gunk off your iron
Turn your iron on high, and sprinkle a generous amount of salt onto a piece of wax paper. Move the hot iron over the paper, and watch the salt cause your gunk to fall right off.
Get rid of mildew
To banish mildew stains and smells from clothes or towels, make a paste from salt and lemon juice. Rub the paste on the stain, then let dry (ideally in the sun). Run clothes through the washing machine for good measure.
DIY dishwasher soap
If you find yourself in a pinch, make your own dishwasher detergent from salt, baking soda and regular dish soap. It works like a charm!
Clean a grime-covered sponge
Fill a container with 2 cups of water and a quarter cup of salt. Leave your greasy, blackened sponge in the mixture overnight, then watch the grime fall right off.
Get rid of caked-on pan grease
Cover the greasy residue with a layer of salt, then add some water and wait 10 minutes. The solution will dissolve the grease, allowing you to easily wipe it away.
Clean a grimy wood cutting board
You shouldn’t put wood cutting boards in the dishwasher, but you can disinfect them with hot water, salt and lemon juice.
Clean up a cracked egg
There’s no need for wads of paper towels. Cover the mess with salt, and wait 10 to 15 minutes. The salt will turn the eggy goo into a crumbly sand that’s easy to wipe up.
Clear up a red wine stain
Sprinkle salt on the fresh stain, and wait 5 minutes. Splash with cold water, and rub until the stain disappears.
Clear up a hair clog in the drain
Make a natural drain cleaning mix by mixing 1/4 cup of baking soda and 1/4 cup of salt. Remove as much hair from the drain as you can with your (gloved!) hands, and then pour the mixture down the drain. Follow with 1/2 cup of white vinegar, and let sit for 15 minutes. Rinse everything down with a pot of boiling water. Voila!